Utopias Barrel-Aged World Wide Stout

Review Date 4/24/2024 By John Staradumsky

  Style:  Imperial Stout   Brewery: Dogfish Head   Country: USA   State: Delaware   $ Per OZ: $.90 (B)   ABV: 17.3%

I scored a bottle of Dogfish Head Utopias Barrel-Aged Worldwide Stout not so long ago. It was actually October 14^th of 2023 when I bought it, and October 27^th when I received it. I got it from Craftshack.com and to be frank, this is not a beer I have ever seen on store shelves anywhere. So I pulled the trigger on it despite the hefty price tag. We live but once.

Now, I must confess that I’ve never had Dogfish Head Worldwide Stout, or Samuel Adams Utopias. I’m still working on that, of course. Utopias is one of the most rare beers of all, only being sold every few years or so, and each bottle priced over $200. If I ever saw a bottle, I would buy it, but I never have. World Wide Stout is less rare but all the same not a common beer, and though a bit pricey, much much less than Utopias.

From the Dogfish head website:

The rumors are true. Often whispered about in the darkest corners of the beer community, World Wide Stout just got a little more complex and whole lot more sought-after. Brewed with a ridiculous amount of barley, you might be wondering how this boundary-pusher could get any more boisterous. One word – Utopias.

Utopias Barrel-Aged World Wide Stout goes great with (or as!) dessert and is an excellent candidate for cellaring, so grab a few bottles to enjoy now and lay the others down for a few years to share with someone you love.

And from the bottle label:

The experience of drinking Utopias is often described as ritualistic, rare and often rumored about in the darkest corners of the beer community. This variety of World Wide Stout is dark, rich, roasty and complex.

In case you don’t know, Boston Beer, the parent company of Samuel Adams, bought Dogfish Head a few years. That makes this collaboration a natural in my opinion.

Dogfish Head Utopias Barrel-Aged Worldwide Stout has an alcohol content of 17.3% by volume, making it one of the strongest beers I have ever tried. I have had stronger, but not many. Samuel Adams Utopias is obviously one stronger beer, and Samuel Adams Millenium (which I have tried). Utopias Barrel-Aged Worldwide Stout reminded me of Samuel Adams Triple Bock. At least one release of the latter slightly edged out Utopias Barrel-Aged Worldwide Stout at 17.5% ABV. I would have loved to have bought a bottle or two extra to age, but at $21.99 each at Craftshack I opted just for one. Total Wine sells the beer at a better, but still high, price of $42.99 a 4-pack in Plantation, Florida.

Dogfish Head Utopias Barrel-Aged Worldwide Stout pours to a jet black color with a very light head (but I poured into a very small glass Triple Bock glass to be fair) and a nose of dark fruity plum and prune. Seems apropos I used a Triple Bock glass, because the nose reminds me of same. Taking a sip, the beer is full and rich in body, not roasty as I expected up front, though that comes later. It is boozy from the Utopias barrels, and again comes at you with dark fruity raisin and prune. Sweet maple syrup is here too. That also calls forth Triple Bock notes. Cocoa and sherry and wood all lead into the dry roasty finish that is boozy and warm with alcohol. Indeed, the alcohol burn in the finish is quite noticeable indeed and makes this a sipping beer to be slowly savored.

The Utopias barrel aging adds a unique character here, and that is what reminds me of the Triple Bock. It is not similar to bourbon, so don’t be looking for that. This beer is well worth the price of admission, and I must say that I very much enjoyed it. Would I buy it again? Now you just know I would.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??